Abstract: ：Single factor and orthogonal tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of ethanol concentration, extraction time, material-liquid ratio and microwave power on extraction rate of yucca saponins. The results showed that the factors affecting microwave-assisted extraction rate of yucca saponins were ethanol concentration, heating time, microwave power and material-liquid ratio in sequence. The optimal extraction conditions were ethanol concentration of 70%, material-to-liquid ratio of 1:80 (g/mL), extraction time of 10×20 s and microwave power of 480 W. Under the optimal extraction conditions, the extraction rate of yucca saponins was 2.18%. Compared with ethanol extraction protocol, microwave-assisted extraction can save 80% time, and greatly improve the extraction rate by 41.56%.

Key words: yucca saponins, microwave-assisted extraction, ethanol extraction, extraction rate